Non-audit Services and Auditor
Independence: New Zealand Evidence
This paper examines evidence in New Zealand about whether auditors providing more
non-audit services are less independent. Three sets of tests are used to address the issue. The
first examines whether there is a relation between non-audit fees and audit fees, the second
examines whether there is a relation between non-audit fees and audit report qualification
or modification, and the third examines whether there is a relation between non-audit fees
and stability of audit tenure. The results suggest a potential for the impairment of auditor
independence in appearance when auditors provide non-audit services but no evidence of any
impact on independence of mind.